Releasing Payments on Upwork

Understanding Upwork’s Payment Schedule

Upwork follows a specific schedule when it comes to releasing payments to ensure the process’s transparency for both clients and freelancers. Here’s how it usually works:

• Hourly projects: For hourly projects, payments are typically released a week following the end of the billing period. So, for a billing period that ends on Sunday, your payment gets released on the following Monday. However, keep in mind that it may take up to three days to process.
• Fixed-price projects: For fixed-price projects, the client sets milestones that come with their respective payment. Once you complete a milestone and it’s approved by the client, your payment gets released. You will find the funds available for withdrawal within five days, as it takes some transaction processing time.

Ensuring Timely Payment Release

Here are some practices for you to follow to ensure that payments are released on time:

• Weekly Review: If you are on an hourly contract, your clients receive your work diary each Monday, which they can review. The clients have until Friday to raise any concerns. If no objections are raised by the end of Friday, the payment for that week will be processed.
• Milestone Approval: If you are on a fixed-price contract, always ensure that your clients approve your milestones promptly. Once the client approves the submitted work for a milestone, the funds will be released.

In either of these scenarios, make sure you maintain clear and regular communication with your client. The key to the timely release of your payment also lies in promptly addressing any concerns your clients may have.